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Speed Fail
When it comes to Revit fails, without question the number one complaint is speed. There seems to be a millions
things that will affect the speed of Revit. In the absence of unlimited funds for the worlds greatest computers and
network, I offer the following 16 tidbits to help move the needle from turtle to rabbit.
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Work in wireframe, not hidden mode. Use a view template to set all views back to hidden before plotting,
or simply have working views and plotting views already in the template.
Open only the required worksets you need on open. There is a tiny down arrow next to the open button
in Revit that allows users to choose which worksets to open. Unopened worksets dont load into memory,
saving computing power for model navigation.
Reload latest before you sync. This reduces the sync time by loading the changes to the central before
pushing the users change up to the central model.
Purge the stuffing out of any linked Revit files. A linked architectural model can potentially have
hundreds of views, schedules, and sheets that are not required for the MEP model. Purging them wont
diminish the usefulness of the architectural model, but it will make it a ton smaller, and the MEP model
faster.
Compact your Revit files once a week or more. Revit files puff up with all kinds of information.
Compacting does just what one might think, having the effect one would expect.
If there are a lot of users accessing the central model at the same time, use the Worksharing tool or
scheduled times for syncing and printing to prevent database collisions.
The slowest machine accessing the central brings the whole lot down. All other users must wait while a
slow machine takes the time it must to sync to the central model.
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Keep open views to a minimum. Just click Close Hidden every five minutes or so. Every view that is
opened must be updated as the model is changed. Close the views to stop the madness.
Don't make or use over-modeled families. Adding detail that doesnt add value only adds weight to the
model.
Have only a generic drafting view open during saves and syncs, for the same reason as number 8
above. There is not much to access and update in a generic start-up view.
Check and clear warnings. Revit likes it when it doesnt have to process warnings, and so will the user.
Keep complex sketch-based items to a minimum. When in sketch mode, keep the arcs and angles to a
minimum.
Break your model into smaller models and link. If the model is too big, consider breaking it up into
smaller models such as east and west wings, or level one and level two.
Restart Revit every four hours. Like all of us, Revit likes a lunch break. Completely shut down Revit to
clear it from memory in the middle of the day. It will make the end of the day much nicer.
Work in dependent views instead of the overall view. Dependant views are usually smaller, ergo, faster.
Detach from central before printing. If only printing is required, detaching from central first will allow the
user to print quicker by avoiding the traffic in the central model. It also allows users of the central model to
work faster without the constant printing traffic.
Visibility Fails
Coming in a close second to speed fails are visibility fails. For new users, having something show up wrong, not
be there, or be there when it shouldnt be there is common. Visibility in Revit can get so complex, it spurred a
game amongst Revit users called Wheres my chair?. A chair is hidden in a model and users compete to find
the chair first. When an element refuses to show itself, use the Reveal Hidden Elements tool in a 3D view, select
everything, then use the filter tool to isolate just the category of item you are looking for. Chances are, it will reveal
itself.
Unchecking the Use Annotation Scale box in the fittings instance properties usually fixes this issue. A quick way
to get all similar fittings is to right-click and select all instances to change them all at once.
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Fixtures can be inserted on a work plane that is parallel to the floor. The plan symbol will be correct, but
the 3D representations will be wrong.
2.
A family can be created with the symbology in a generic annotation family inserted into a face-based
family then nested into a new face-based family with the 3D representation. A reference plane with a slope
parameter can be used to control the slope of the annotation family within the host family.
Variations of this technique can be used for fixtures that use symbols that are not drawn to scale. Examples are
occupancy sensors, fixtures that use symbols that are drawn to scale and are symmetrical such as can lights, and
fixtures that use symbols that are drawn to scale and are asymmetrical such as 2x4 light fixtures.
Object Styles
View Range
Visibility Graphics Overrides
Phasing Graphics Overrides
View Depth (Beyond)
View Filters (Filters nearer the top of the list override filters nearer the bottom)
Override Graphics in View by Element
View Detail Level
View Discipline
Line Work Tool
Worksets
Hide in View
Size Fail
Element is too small on screen is one of the most frustrating errors ever. Sooner or later users will want to draw
something that Revit just wont recognize. This stems from the fact that Revit has a setting for the smallest unit of
measure and it will not create something smaller than that. That being said, some things might get a user beyond
that error.
1.
Zoom in and try again
2.
Change unit precision to 1/256
3.
Draw bigger, then scale down
If none of that works, its time to draw something different.
Shared Fail
Linked architectural title blocks can be dependent on their shared parameters, not yours. If the architect doesnt
want to share parameters, users can create a set of dummy parameters that can substitute for any architects
title block parameter.
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These tips should help users overcome some of the most common failures of using Revit for MEP.
There is no doubt that many more failures await Revit users. Thats life, and is not confined to users of Revit. The
secret to conquering failures is simple determination. Dont give up when Revit challenges you. Revit has been
around for a good long time now. Any problem encountered has probably been lived by someone else and
solved. It shouldnt take too much research to find a solution to get back on track. AUGI has brought you these
answers, and there are many more stored online. I encourage everyone to search AUGI first and to consider
upgrading to a Premier or Professional level membership.